The Hydramax complex in San Francisco illustrates a complete opposite of traditional building goals. While many buildings are made to keep water out, Future Cities Lab’s Hydramax invites it in. It uses water for all of its operations, including community gardens, a wildlife refuge, aquatic park and aquaponic farms. One way Hydramax gets its water is through large feather-like structures on its roof. The feathers harvest the dense bay fog and convert it into water.Dune City in the Sarah Desert is a massive housing project that uses the normally erosive properties of sand and weathering for positive results. In this case, sand is converted into sandstone on which protective vegetation is planted. Also, concave pits allow for thermal cooling and water storage. Not bad for tiny grains of sand.